Umbilical retraction apparatus

ABSTRACT

An umbilical retraction apparatus for selectively retracting and extending an umbilical. A retractor feeds a cable upon which two umbilical grips are mounted. A first umbilical grip is slidably mounted upon the cable and grips the umbilical remote from the umbilical&#39;s end. A second umbilical grip is mounted to the cable intermediate the first umbilical grip and the umbilical&#39;s end, as by a cable grip that holds the end of the cable. The umbilical is held substantially parallel to the cable by the first umbilical grip and is held substantially perpendicular to the cable by the second umbilical grip. A loop is formed in the umbilical when the cable is retracted by the retractor.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a non-provisional, and claims priority benefit, of pending U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/652,388 (filed Feb. 14, 2005) entitled “Retraacto System,” hereby specifically incorporated by reference in its entirety.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO COMPACT DISC(S)

Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates, in general, to cord and hose retraction apparatus, and in particular, to an apparatus for retracting an umbilical in a work area.

2. Information Disclosure Statement

It is often desired to provide hoses and cords, such as pneumatic hoses, lubrication feed hoses, water hoses, and power cords in a work area such as a garage, storrage area, and/or assembly workstations. Such hoses and cords, etc., are generically referred to herein as “umbilicals.” Typically, the umbilicals originate from an overhead location, such as a supply point for air or water or electricity, and extend downwardly for use. For example, an electrical cord may have a charging plug at one end for plugging into a socket on an electric golf cart so as to recharge the golf cart's battery overnight. Or, as another example, a pneumatic tool such as a pneumatic drill or bolt tightener may be secured to the end of a pneumatic hose. When not in use, it is desirable that the umbilicals be retracted out of the way. Well-known solutions for this problem include storage hooks on which to hang the umbilical, cord and hose reels for umbilicals, and, as shown in FIG. 1, include attaching one end of an umbilical 20 to a rope or cord 22 that is suspended through pulleys 24 from a roof 26 to a counterweight 28, such that the end of the umbilical 20 may be raised or lowered with corresponding downward and upward movement of counterweight 28.

A prior art solution employing a cord or hose reel for umbilical retraction is often used in garages and vehicle repair facilities, and has a complicated mechanism to supply power, air, or fluids through fittings at the axis of the reel.

It is therefore desirable to have an improved umbilical retraction apparatus that permits an umbilical to be extended for use and retracted when not in use, which is simpler than heretofore known umbilical retraction apparatus.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is an umbilical retraction apparatus for selectively retracting and extending an umbilical. A retractor feeds a cable upon which two umbilical grips are mounted. A first umbilical grip is slidably mounted upon the cable and grips the umbilical remote from the umbilical's end. A second umbilical grip is mounted to the cable intermediate the first umbilical grip and the umbilical's end, as by a cable grip that holds the end of the cable. The umbilical is held substantially parallel to the cable by the first umbilical grip and is held substantially perpendicular to the cable by the second umbilical grip. A loop is formed in the umbilical when the cable is retracted by the retractor.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an umbilical retraction apparatus that is a improvement over the prior art by its simplicity and which allows a umbilical to be extended and retracted, with a loop being formed in the umbilical when retracted.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a view of a prior art umbilical retractor apparatus.

FIG. 2 is a view of the umbilical retraction apparatus of the present invention with the umbilical in a retracted position.

FIG. 3 is a view of the umbilical retraction apparatus of the present invention with the umbilical in n extended position.

FIG. 4 is a view of the umbilical retraction apparatus of the present invention removed from the umbilical.

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of one half of an umbilical grip of the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the half of the umbilical grip shown in FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 is a side view of the umbilical grip holding an umbilical and being slidably received on the retraction cable.

FIG. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the umbilical grip showing its various parts and assembly.

FIG. 9 is a bottom view of one half of the cable grip of the present invention.

FIG. 10 is a top plan view of the half of the cable grip shown in FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is a side sectional view of the cable grip shown in FIG. 10, taken along the line 11-11, showing the gripping of the end of the cable.

FIG. 12 is a side view of the cable grip and second umbilical grip of the present invention, showing rocking movement of the umbilical grip with respect to the cable grip. The view from the reverse side is substantially identical.

FIG. 13 is a side view of the cable grip and umbilical grip with one half of the cable grip removed to show details of attachment of the umbilical grip to the cable grip.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to FIGS. 2-13, the umbilical retraction apparatus 30 of the present invention includes a first umbilical grip 32 and a second umbilical grip 34, and a retractor 36 having a reeled cable 38 that extends and retracts upon an internal reel (not shown) that rotates about an axis 40. Umbilical 20 extends from a mounting such as an overhead beam 46 of a building, and has an umbilical end 21, remote from the mounting, for attaching to a device such as a power tool, a charging socket, a nozzle, or the like in a manner well-known to those skilled in the art.

Retractor 36 is preferably a well-known so-called retractor balancer having an internal spring-loaded reel that extends and retracts cord or cable 38, preferably a coated braided wire cable for flexibility and strength, and preferably includes a swiveling eye bolt 42 for mounting upon a hook 44 as by a well-known “S-hook” or the like, with hook 44 being attached to a structure such as to overhead beam 46 of a building. The lift capacity of retractor 36 should be appropriately chosen for the weight of umbilical 20, and a suitable retractor 36 having a lift capacity of about 1.1 to 3.3 pounds (0.5 to 1.5 kg.) is the model MR-3 retractor balancer, item #180515, sold by Mountz, Inc., 1080 N. 11th Street, San Jose, Calif. 95112. Such well-known retractors typically have spiral springs with an adjustment to counteract the weight of tools hung upon the retractor, and are known for suspending a tool on a cable, typically having a cable 38 that is about 80 inches (2 meters) long or as desired to reach from an overhead location to a work location below.

First and second umbilical grips 32, 34 are preferably substantially similar for reduced parts inventory, and a description of first umbilical grip 32 will suffice for both. However, it should be understood that first and second umbilical grips 32, 34 may have different structure without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as long as they still perform their essential function of holding umbilical 20.

First umbilical grip 32 is preferably constructed from two identical half-shell portions 48 that are matingly received together and secured to each other by two screws 50, inserted into the mated portions as shown best in FIGS. 7 and 8. Each half-shell portion 48 is preferably formed of molded plastic and has an internal post 52 with a blind axial bore 54 therein, and the post 52 is received within an aligned enlarged bore 56 of the other mating half-shell portion. A screw 50 is inserted through the bore 56 of one half-shell portion 48 and is tappingly received into the bore 54 of the other half-shell portion 48, with another screw 50 being similarly inserted through the bore 56 of the other half-shell portion 48, so as to draw the two portions 48 together as the screws are tightened, as shown in FIG. 7, entrapping the umbilical 20 between the mating semicircular cutouts 58 on the two portions that form a circular hole around the umbilical when the umbilical grip is assembled. It shall be understood that the umbilical 20 shown in the drawing figures is, simply for purposes of illustration, shown as an electrical cord having a plurality of electrical conductors surrounded by insulation, but the umbilical grips of the present invention are equally suited for gripping pneumatic hoses, fluid and air hoses, etc., simply by scaling the size of the umbilical grips 32, 34 without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Each half-shell portion 48 of umbilical grip 32 has a slot 60 preferably aligned along the longitudinal direction of umbilical 20 as it passes through the umbilical grip 32, and each umbilical grip 32, 34 includes a tether 62, sized for receipt into one of the slots 60 from the inside of umbilical grip 32. Tether 62 is preferably flexible to adapt to a variety of umbilicals, and has an eye 64 formed in one of its ends and an enlarged head 66 formed in its other end. The shank 68 of tether 62 has a neck 70 that is enlarged along a first transverse dimension and narrowed along a second transverse dimension that is perpendicular to the first transverse dimension so as to be received into slot 60 and be prevented from rotation while retained therewithin by head 66, which cannot pass through slot 60. Further, referring to FIG. 8, the enlarged first transverse dimension of shank 68 is seen to be rotated ninety degrees about the longitudinal axis of shank 68 from the wider dimension formed by eye 64, such that tether 62 is inserted into slot 60 by first inserting eye 64 through slot 60 as shown in FIG. 8, then rotating tether 62 ninety degrees about the longitudinal axis of shank 68 so that neck 70 can be received into slot 60. This structure of tether 62 causes the hole through eye 64 to be aligned along the longitudinal direction of umbilical 20, such that cable 38 is caused to be substantially parallel to umbilical 20 as umbilical 20 is gripped by first umbilical grip 32, as best seen in FIG. 7. As seen best in FIGS. 4 and 7, and as hereinafter explained further, cable 38 is received through eye 64 of the tether 62 of first umbilical grip 32 so as to slidably mount first umbilical grip 32 upon cable 38, thereby allowing first umbilical grip 32 to slide along cable 38 as needed and as further explained hereinbelow.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 9-13, the second umbilical grip 34 preferably has first and second identical half-shell portions 48 that are preferably identical to portions 48 of first umbilical grip 32, heretofore described, and further has a tether 62 that is preferably identical to tether 62 of the first umbilical grip 32, heretofore described. Second umbilical grip 34 is mounted to cable 38 and holds the umbilical 20 intermediate umbilical end 21 and first umbilical grip 32. Typically and preferably second umbilical grip 34 grips umbilical 20 about 18 inches (45.7 cm.) from umbilical end 21 so as to provide freedom to the user when attaching umbilical end 21 to its intended tool or socket, etc. Furthermore, first umbilical grip 32 grips umbilical 20 a distance upstream of second umbilical grip 34 about 2.7 times the distance from second umbilical grip 34 to umbilical end 21, i.e., about 4 feet (122 cm.) of umbilical between first and second umbilical grips 32, 34.

The mounting of second umbilical grip 34 to cable 38 is preferably by a cable grip 72 into which the end 74 of cable 38 is grippingly held. Cable grip 72 is preferably constructed of two identical hemispherical portions 76 that are held together by screws 78 in a manner that will be described hereinbelow. Because both hemispherical portions 76 are preferably identical to reduce parts inventory, a description of one will suffice for both.

Hemispherical cable grip portion 76 is preferably made of plastic, and has a semi-cylindrical cable channel 78 extending from the center to the outside of hemispherical portion 76, with channel 78 having a plurality of inwardly-protruding nibs 80 for additional gripping of cable 38. Further, channel 78 is preferably sized slightly smaller in diameter than cable 38 so that the compressive force and “give” of the plastic of cable grip 72 as the two hemispherical portions 76 are joined together by screws 82, in combination with the gripping by nibs 80, securely holds the end of the cable within cable grip 72. Furthermore, for additional gripping of cable 38 by cable grip 72, hemispherical portion 76 has a blind bore 84 in communication with channel 78 and extending radially from the center of hemispherical portion 76 in a direction perpendicular to channel 78, so that the end 74 of cable 38 is inserted into bore 84, with cable 38 being bent at right angles to lie within channel 78, causing cable 38 to be securely held within cable grip 72 as best seen in FIG. 11, which shows, in dotted outline, the placement of one hemispherical portion 76′ atop the other hemispherical portion 76. Each hemispherical portion 76 has a somewhat pie-shaped recessed area 86 surrounding an upstanding retaining post 88, and as best seen in FIG. 13, the eye 64 of tether 62 of second umbilical grip 34 is received onto and retained by retaining post 88 within recessed area 86, thereby allowing tether 62 of second umbilical grip 34 to allow second umbilical grip 34 to “rock” side to side as shown in FIG. 12, from a first position shown in solid outline to a second position shown in dotted outline. Each hemispherical portion 76 further has an upstanding post 90 that is matingly received into an enlarged bore 92 through the other hemispherical portion, with post 90 having a blind bore 94. A screw 82 is inserted into each enlarged bore 92 from the exterior of cable grip 72 into the blind bore 94 of the mating hemispherical portion 76, and the two hemispherical portions are drawn together as the screws threadedly engage with their respective blind bores 94, thereby entrapping eye 64 of tether 62 of second umbilical grip onto the mating retaining posts 88, and also thereby securely gripping the end 74 of cable 38 within the cable grip 72. It shall be understood that the structure of second umbilical grip 34 and its mounting to cable 38 by cable grip 72 causes umbilical 20 to be substantially perpendicular to cable 38 at second cable grip 72, as seen, for example, in FIG. 13.

It should be understood that, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the structure of second umbilical grip 34 need not be identical to first umbilical grip 32, and that the mounting of second umbilical grip 34 to cable 38 need not be with a cable grip having the structure of the cable grip heretofore described. For example, a loop may be formed in the end 74 of cable 38 and held by a well-known crimp sleeve, with a tie such as a well-known cable tie securing the eye of second umbilical grip 34 to this loop in the end of the cable. However the preferred embodiment of the present invention has first and second umbilical grips 32, 34 being substantially identical and uses the cable grip heretofore described, thereby permitting easy disassembly of the umbilical grips from the cable for replacement of broken umbilicals or of broken umbilical grips, and also permitting common parts to be used for umbilical grips 32, 34.

To assemble the umbilical retraction apparatus 30 of the present invention, the eye 64 of a tether 62 is inserted into and through the slot 60 of one half-shell portion 48 of first umbilical grip 32 as heretofore described, and the end 74 of cable 38 is threaded through this eye 64 as it emerges from the half-shell portion 48 of first umbilical grip 32, thereby slidably securing first umbilical grip 32 to cable 38. Then a right-angle bend is formed into the end 74 of cable 38 and inserted into bore 84 of a hemispherical portion 76 of cable grip 72, the eye 64 of a second tether 62 is inserted through the slot 60 of a half-shell portion 48 of second umbilical grip 32 as heretofore described, and this eye 64 of second tether 62 is placed upon a post 88 of a hemispherical portion 76 of cable grip 72. The two hemispherical portions 76 of cable grip 72 are then secured together by screws 82, thereby causing the end 74 of cable 38 to be grippingly held by cable grip 72 and causing tether 62 to be held upon post 88. The partially-assembled apparatus may be shipped and installed without spring tension on the retractor cable for ease of mounting at its intended location. The second half-shell portions 48 of first and second umbilical grips 32, 34 are joined to their mating portions and secured around the umbilical 20 with screws 50, and the retractor 36 is then hung from a support such as from beam 46. Once attached to the umbilical, the retractor 36 is then adjusted such that the first and second umbilical grips are retracted to be adjacent the retractor 36 when no additional pulling force is exerted on the umbilical end, thereby counterbalancing the weight of the umbilical and any devices attached to the umbilical.

When cable 38 is retracted within retractor 36, second umbilical grip 34 becomes proximate retractor 36 with first umbilical grip 32 interposed between second umbilical grip 34 and retractor 36 as shown in FIG. 2, and the sliding mounting of first umbilical grip 32 upon cable 38 causes a loop 96 to form in umbilical 20, thereby keeping excess umbilical 20 out of the way of workers and equipment and traffic, as an improvement over the prior art.

When the end 21 of umbilical 20 is pulled downwardly for use, as shown in FIG. 3, cable 38 unreels from retractor 36 and loop 96 opens as first umbilical grip 32 slides along cable 38, allowing umbilical 20 to provide electricity, fluids, compressed air, etc., to a device or tool. For example, when the present invention is used with an umbilical recharging cord for golf carts, the recharging cord can be extended to the cart for overnight charging and then retracted overhead when not in use.

Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to a preferred embodiment and a preferred use therefor, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full intended scope of the invention. 

1: An umbilical retraction apparatus for selectively retracting and extending an umbilical, said umbilical extending from a mounting and having an umbilical end remote from said mounting, said apparatus comprising: (a) a retractor having a reel and a cable reeled thereon, said cable being selectively extendable and retractable from said retractor; (b) a first umbilical grip holding said umbilical remote from said umbilical end, said first umbilical grip being slidably mounted upon said cable; and (c) a second umbilical grip being mounted to said cable, said second umbilical grip holding said umbilical intermediate said umbilical end and said first umbilical grip. 2: The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said first umbilical grip holds said umbilical to be substantially parallel to said cable at said first umbilical grip. 3: The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which said second umbilical grip holds said umbilical to be substantially perpendicular to said cable at said second umbilical grip. 4: The apparatus as recited in claim 3, in which said first umbilical grip holds said umbilical to be substantially parallel to said cable at said first umbilical grip. 5: The apparatus as recited in claim 1, in which, when said cable is retracted onto said reel so that said second umbilical grip is proximate said retractor, said umbilical between said first umbilical grip and said second umbilical grip forms a loop. 6: The apparatus as recited in claim 5, in which said second umbilical grip holds said umbilical to be substantially perpendicular to said cable at said second umbilical grip. 7: The apparatus as recited in claim 6, in which said first umbilical grip holds said umbilical to be substantially parallel to said cable at said first umbilical grip. 